Shelf-attachable apparatus having an energy harvesting device

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic apparatus, in particular one that is designed as a shelf rail and / or as an electronic display apparatus, for attaching to a shelf, said apparatus having an energy harvesting device which is designed to harvest energy.

Description

[0001] Title: DEVICE FOR MOUNTING ON A SHELF WITH AN ENERGY HARVESTING UNIT

[0002] Description

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The invention relates to a device for attaching to a shelf and a method for operating this device.

[0005] background

[0006] Shelving systems, such as those used in retail stores, are nowadays equipped with various devices and components, such as sensors (e.g., temperature sensors), electronic displays (e.g., electronic shelf labels, or ESLs), electronic shelf rails, and / or video shelf rails (e.g., as described in WO 2019 / 091565 Al and WO 2021 / 121643 Al). Such devices require electrical energy or power to supply their components. These components could be, for example, a screen or its electronics. The power supply can be provided to the component via a cable or power adapter.In most cases, however, the premises where the shelving units are installed lack the necessary infrastructure to provide a comprehensive wired power supply. Therefore, the unit is often powered by batteries. Consequently, there is a demand for energy-optimized devices to ensure the most maintenance-free and long-lasting operation possible.

[0007] The invention therefore aims to provide a device and a method that enable energy-optimized operation of the device.

[0008] Summary of the Invention: This problem is solved by an electronic device according to claim 1. The subject matter of the invention is therefore an electronic device, in particular configured as a shelf rail and / or as an electronic display device, for mounting on a shelf, wherein the device has an energy harvesting device configured for energy harvesting.

[0009] This problem is further solved by a method according to claim 16. The invention therefore relates to a method for operating a device, in particular configured as a shelf rail and / or as an electronic display device, attached to a shelf, wherein the device has an energy harvesting device that provides electrical energy by means of energy harvesting.

[0010] These measures allow the device to be supplied with energy harvested by the energy harvesting unit, thus enabling longer operating times (e.g., for a battery-powered device) or operation with lower power consumption from an external power supply, such as a power adapter. The energy harvesting unit therefore provides a secondary electrical power supply, which reduces the load on the primary electrical power supply (battery or power adapter, etc.) and thus enables more energy-efficient or energy-optimized operation of the device over its operating time.

[0011] Further, particularly advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description. Advantages and effects mentioned in connection with a device claim also apply analogously to a corresponding method claim.

[0012] The term "energy harvesting," now common in German, literally translates from English as "Energie-Ernten" (energy harvesting). Energy harvesting refers to the extraction of small amounts of electrical energy from sources such as ambient temperature, vibrations, or air currents. The device is therefore designed for energy harvesting. The structures used for energy harvesting are also referred to in technical jargon as nanogenerators. Thus, the energy harvesting device either incorporates a nanogenerator or is designed as a nanogenerator.

[0013] The device is preferably designed to connect a device, in particular a display device, to the shelf and / or to display changeable video and / or image information, especially product and / or price information. The device can therefore be designed as an electronic display device for showing video and / or image information, in particular product and / or price information, which can be connected to the shelf directly or, for example, via a shelf rail. The electronic display device can also be referred to as an electronic shelf label or, in technical jargon, as an "Electronic Shelf Label," or ESL for short. Conventionally, such ESLs are equipped with an extremely energy-efficient electrophoretic screen.

[0014] However, the device can also be designed as an electronic support device, preferably as an electronic shelf rail, in particular according to WO2022188955A1 and / or WO2022188956A1 and / or WO2022189314A1.

[0015] Preferably, the device is configured as a video shelf rail with a screen for displaying video and / or image information, particularly product and / or price information. Video shelf rails allow for attracting the attention of people, such as potential customers, and creating a sales incentive. Information can also be provided quickly and concisely using video shelf rails. However, video shelf rails require a significant amount of electrical energy for their operation. Therefore, it is particularly advantageous to use the energy harvesting device in combination with the video shelf rail because the extended operating time allows for the provision of considerably more information due to the high information density. For example, promotional videos lasting several seconds or even several minutes can be played repeatedly.

[0016] Preferably, the energy harvesting device is configured to generate electrical energy from a temperature difference or from heat, particularly with a thermoelectric generator and / or a pyroelectric crystal. The energy harvesting device thus generates electrical energy from a temperature difference or from heat, particularly with a thermoelectric generator and / or a pyroelectric crystal. The energy harvesting device is therefore designed to convert heat into electrical energy. The use of an energy harvesting device in an electrical appliance mounted on a shelf, particularly bordering a shelf, has proven surprisingly advantageous, since air heated, for example, by the device, typically accumulates in the shelves, while the well-ventilated aisles adjacent to the shelves provide cool air.Thus, a significant temperature difference exists at the point where the device is located, resulting in a high energy yield during energy harvesting. In other words, a good energy yield can be achieved through energy harvesting even without additional measures such as thermal insulation on one side or the removal of heated air on the other. The energy yield can be further improved by the aforementioned measures (thermal insulation, removal of heated air).

[0017] Such a temperature-difference-based energy harvesting device can be used in various devices, such as a sensor or sensor device and / or an electronic shelf label (ESL), for example, one featuring an electric paper screen (known as an "e-paper screen"). It has proven particularly advantageous to use an energy harvesting device for generating electrical energy from a temperature difference or heat in a device featuring a video shelf rail, or designed as a video shelf rail, because a video shelf rail emits or generates a particularly large amount of heat.

[0018] Preferably, the energy harvesting device is designed to convert energy using the Seebeck effect. For this purpose, the energy harvesting device can, for example, include a Seebeck thermocouple or a Peltier element.

[0019] For both video shelf rails and other devices with a screen, it has proven advantageous to design the energy harvesting system to utilize the screen's waste heat. The energy harvesting system thus uses the screen's waste heat to generate electrical energy. The screen is a significant heat consumer. This measure therefore allows for a particularly high energy recovery rate and consequently reduces the energy consumption from the primary power supply.

[0020] Preferably, the energy harvesting device is located adjacent to the screen, in particular in contact with the screen, preferably in contact with the screen over its entire surface. This leads, on the one hand, to a particularly advantageous recovery of heat in the form of usable energy, because it is extracted directly from the screen. On the other hand, this results in a largely constant heat flow away from the screen over time. This has a beneficial effect on the durability of the screen, because it is thus exposed to fewer temperature fluctuations.

[0021] Preferably, the energy harvesting device contacts a panel and / or electronics of the screen, especially over a large area, in order to utilize the contact surface for energy transfer.

[0022] According to one aspect of the invention, it has proven advantageous for the device to have a cooling device, in particular a cooling device comprising a fan, for cooling at least parts of the device, especially a screen or a part of a screen. This further reduces the risk of damage to components such as the screen, because temperature spikes are avoided and temperature fluctuations are further reduced.

[0023] It has proven advantageous for the device, in particular its control unit or electronics, to be configured to control the cooling system depending on the activity of the energy harvesting device. This optimizes both energy recovery and the load on the screen and / or other components of the device, because the temperature of the components or consumers, or the temperature difference between the components or consumers and the environment, is controlled. For this purpose, the device, in particular the control unit, can be configured to control the cooling system depending on the energy and / or electrical voltage provided by the energy harvesting device. This can be done indirectly, for example via a transistor that enables the power supply to the control unit. However, it can also be done directly.The cooling system can thus be directly powered by the energy or electrical voltage provided by the energy harvesting unit. This ensures reliable cooling because it is activated whenever the load (e.g., the monitor) generates sufficient heat, thereby preventing the components from overheating.

[0024] It has also proven advantageous for the device to have a sensor for detecting a state and / or to be configured to receive sensor data describing a state. The device itself can therefore have the sensor, and / or an external device can have the sensor and provide the sensor data generated by it, either wired or wirelessly, e.g., radio-based. The sensor data can relate, for example, to humidity and / or temperature, particularly in the vicinity of the device and / or at a specific point on the device.

[0025] Preferably, the device, in particular the control unit or the electronics, is designed to control the energy harvesting device depending on its state. If the internal and / or external sensor detects that, for example, a limit value, such as a temperature limit, has been exceeded, the energy harvesting device is activated to provide electrical energy or to tap into a potential difference provided by the energy harvesting device. This enables situation-dependent energy supply, which in turn leads to optimized energy use and thus allows for longer operation of the device.

[0026] For this purpose, the control unit preferably has a sensor processing stage and / or a radio stage.

[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, the condition relates to the presence of a person, and the device is configured to control the energy harvesting unit depending on the presence of a person. The energy harvesting unit is thus controlled depending on the presence of a person. Presence can be detected by means of the external and / or internal sensor device.

[0028] The sensor device is preferably designed to detect the presence of a person. This can be achieved, for example, by measuring the time of flight, for instance using radar and / or lidar, and / or light barriers, or similar methods. The sensor unit comprises a time-of-flight sensor unit, in particular a radar unit and / or lidar unit, and / or a light barrier unit.

[0029] The presence of a person can also be determined, for example, by radio frequency detection, whereby it is recorded that a mobile user device, such as a mobile phone and / or a so-called "smart shopping cart," is positioned at least in the vicinity of a sales area, in particular in the vicinity of the device. The presence of a person can be determined, for example, by means of a computerized method as disclosed in WO2024074216A1. The device is preferably configured to carry out the computerized method according to WO2024074216A1.

[0030] Preferably, the device is also configured to control consumers, particularly the screen, depending on the presence of people. For example, if a consumer, such as the screen, reaches a temperature above the ambient temperature due to its operation, the energy harvesting device can use the temperature difference to provide electrical energy. However, if the internal and / or external sensor detects that no person is currently in the vicinity of the device or approaching it, the device or the consumer can be operated in an energy-saving mode in which the consumer operates with reduced energy consumption. For example, the screen can be dimmed or switched off in energy-saving mode. While the consumer is operating in energy-saving mode, less or no electrical energy is required.By controlling the energy harvesting device based on the presence of a person, it can, for example, remain deactivated when no one is nearby. The device and its surroundings thus remain at a higher temperature than the surroundings and cool down only slowly. The device and its surroundings, such as an adjacent housing component, therefore act as a thermal storage medium, temporarily storing energy, specifically during periods of low demand. When a person approaches the device, the device and the energy harvesting system can be activated. The energy harvesting system then utilizes the remaining temperature difference to supply the device, which now requires (more) electrical energy. This measure thus enables energy supply and distribution optimized for consumption.Energy is thus stored thermally in a cost-effective manner until it can be used in the form of electrical energy.

[0031] The energy harvesting system can also be controlled based on other sensor data or other influencing factors in general, such as the time and / or date and / or day of the week.

[0032] Generally, the periods during which the device or consumer operates in energy-saving mode are quite short. For example, in retail stores, the times when no one is standing near a shelf, shelf rail, or similar fixture are very brief and rarely longer than a minute. During this time, the consumer and its surroundings can typically store a significant amount of energy. To further improve energy storage and thus bridge longer periods, such as a few minutes, a heat storage device can be incorporated. The heat storage device may have a structure optimized for heat storage and / or utilize specific materials or material combinations.

[0033] It has therefore proven generally advantageous for the device to have a heat storage unit. This allows energy to be stored, which can then be extracted by the energy harvesting unit and converted into electrical energy. Thus, energy can be stored, at least in the short term, without the need for additional or larger batteries. This, in turn, reduces or even eliminates the use of expensive, scarce materials and / or materials whose disposal is problematic in batteries.

[0034] Preferably, the heat storage device is designed as a latent heat storage system and / or thermochemical heat storage system or sorption storage system, or incorporates a latent heat storage system and / or thermochemical heat storage system or sorption storage system. This allows for the storage of a relatively large amount of thermal energy, which can then be converted as needed. This enables optimal use of the available building structure and space for energy storage.

[0035] A device according to any one of the preceding claims 3 to 10, wherein the device comprises a heat conduction element configured to conduct heat to the energy harvesting device. The heat conduction element may comprise a material with high thermal conductivity, for example, silver, copper, aluminum, or iron. However, the heat conduction element may also be configured to move material, e.g., a liquid, between the consumer and the energy harvesting device, so that the thermal energy is transported from the consumer to the energy harvesting device.

[0036] The heat-conducting device preferably extends along the longitudinal dimension of the screen, in particular at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 95% of the screen's longitudinal dimension. This enables a uniform heat flow and thus results in a more uniform temperature distribution along the screen. This prevents damage to the screen, such as that which can occur due to thermal stress.

[0037] The screen is preferably elongated, so that it preferably has an aspect ratio of at least 16:9 or greater, in particular greater than 16:9, for example 16:3 or 16:2 or 16:1, especially between 17:2 and 17:1. The aspect ratios refer to the height and width of the screen measured in a linear unit, e.g., centimeters.

[0038] According to a further aspect of the invention, the device includes an energy storage unit for storing electrical energy. Preferably, the device is configured to store electrical energy provided by the energy harvesting unit in the energy storage unit. This measure allows the energy generation by the energy harvesting unit and its use by consumers to be further separated in time, thus further optimizing energy utilization.

[0039] The energy storage device can be designed as a battery or contain a battery. This allows for particularly long storage of electrical energy.

[0040] Preferably, the energy storage device includes a capacitor, in particular a supercapacitor, or is designed as a capacitor. This allows for short-term energy storage with minimal material requirements. This has proven particularly advantageous in the context of such a device in a retail environment, as the device is needed for short intervals, which are interrupted by brief pauses. For example, a video display rail is briefly activated to show a promotional video to potential customers. This generates waste heat, which is captured by the energy harvesting device, converted into electrical energy, and stored in the energy storage device, particularly in the capacitor. As long as no potential customers are in the aisle, the device can be operated in an energy-efficient manner.It typically doesn't take long before the consumer, in this example the device's screen, is reactivated, for instance to play the advertising video to the next potential customer. The electrical energy converted by the energy harvesting device can be optimally stored in a capacitor to bridge these short pauses.

[0041] According to another aspect of the invention, it has proven advantageous for the energy harvesting device to be designed as a solar cell or photovoltaic cell, or to incorporate a solar cell or photovoltaic cell. The use of such a solar energy harvesting device allows ambient light, for example, sunlight and / or the light from a business premises, to be converted into electrical energy. The device typically requires the most energy when the surroundings are illuminated. For example, during opening hours, a shop is particularly brightly lit so that potential customers can view the goods. At precisely this time, a shelf rail, for instance, requires a particularly large amount of energy because it displays product and / or price information, such as an advertising video.This solar energy harvesting system offers the advantage of providing a particularly large amount of convertible energy through lighting precisely when there is increased energy demand. In other words, energy supply is tailored to the energy demand.

[0042] Preferably, the device comprises several energy harvesting devices designed to convert different forms of energy into electrical energy. For example, the device preferably includes, on the one hand, an energy harvesting device for generating electrical energy from a temperature difference or from heat, and on the other hand, an energy harvesting device designed as or comprising a solar cell or photovoltaic cell for generating electrical energy from ambient light.

[0043] It has proven particularly advantageous that the solar cell is designed as a Grätzel cell, or dye-sensitized solar cell. The use of the Grätzel cell has proven especially advantageous because it allows for the efficient use of diffuse light. Such diffuse light typically occurs in the vicinity of shelves, for example in supermarkets or warehouses.

[0044] In general, it has proven advantageous to integrate the solar cell into the device using an injection molding process. Reference is made to SE 2051173 Al in this regard.

[0045] It has also proven advantageous if the solar cell comprises a light-absorbing electrode coupled with a porous photonic crystal or a multilayer Bragg reflector. Reference is made in this regard to WO 2009 / 127692 A2, which discloses a device for converting solar energy into electrical energy, preferably in the form of a solar cell.

[0046] Furthermore, the solar cell preferably comprises a light-absorbing layer. Reference is made to WO 2018 / 021952 Al, which discloses a preferred embodiment of the light-absorbing layer. The solar cell thus preferably comprises a light-absorbing layer for a photovoltaic device, wherein the light-absorbing layer includes a charge conductor made of a charge-conducting material in physical contact with a doped semiconducting material. The light-absorbing layer comprises a plurality of grains made of the doped semiconducting material, and the grains are partially covered with the charge conductor, so that a plurality of interfaces are formed between the grains and the charge conductor. This allows for particularly cost-effective manufacturing of the device. At the same time, the device can be operated for extended periods without maintenance because the solar cell provides the necessary power (or at least a portion thereof).The device can therefore be manufactured and operated inexpensively.

[0047] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous that the solar cell is designed as a dye-sensitized solar cell comprising 1D photonic crystals. Reference is made to W02010146088A1, which discloses a preferred embodiment of the dye-sensitized solar cell. Preferably, the 1D photonic crystals are in the form of grains, and each grain has several alternating porous layers of semiconducting nanoparticles that generate a periodic variation of the refractive index in the ID-PC.

[0048] It should be noted that in the context of the invention, "generating energy" means the conversion of one form of energy into another, more usable form of energy, in particular into electrical energy.

[0049] Finally, it should be mentioned generally that the electronic devices discussed (the apparatus, in particular designed as an ESL, video shelf rail, sensor unit, etc.) naturally contain electronics. The electronics can be discrete, integrated, or a combination of both. Microcomputers, microcontrollers, and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), possibly in combination with analog or digital electronic peripherals, may also be used. Many of the aforementioned functionalities of the devices are implemented—possibly in conjunction with hardware components—using software running on a processor within the electronics. Devices designed for radio communication typically include an antenna configuration for transmitting and receiving radio signals as part of a transceiver module.The electronic devices can also have an internal power supply, which can be implemented, for example, with a replaceable or rechargeable battery. Alternatively, the devices can be powered via a wired connection, either through an external power supply unit or via Power over LAN.

[0050] These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the figures discussed below.

[0051] Character description

[0052] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures and exemplary embodiments, to which, however, the invention is not limited. The same components are designated with identical reference numerals in the various figures. Figure 1 schematically shows a shelf with an electrical device designed as a video shelf rail;

[0053] Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the shelf rail.

[0054] Description of the exemplary implementations

[0055] Figure 1 shows a section of a shelf 100. The shelf 100 has one shelf level 101. On shelf level 101 are goods 102 (reference symbols are shown as examples of goods) offered for sale. Shelf level 101 supports a device 1 designed as a video shelf rail. The device 1 has a screen 2. The screen displays product and / or price information. Here, the product and / or price information is displayed in the form of text. However, the device 1 can also play an advertising video in the background of this text or play a video without displaying any text. This video is played, in particular, when a person is in the vicinity of the device (as discussed in the context of Figure 2). The shelf 100 is located in the sales area of ​​a retail store. The sales area has lighting 103 (symbolized by a "light bulb" or "filament lamp").The device 1 is equipped with an LED lamp, which illuminates the shelf 100 and thus the goods 102 and the device 1. The device 1 has a first energy harvesting unit 3A designed as a solar cell or photovoltaic cell, specifically as a Grätzel cell. The first energy harvesting unit 3A converts the energy provided by the lighting 103 into electrical energy, thereby supporting the electrical supply of the screen 2. In the case of a battery-powered device 1, this allows for a longer battery life for the screen 2, or, in the case of an external power supply for the device 1, reduces the power consumption.

[0056] Furthermore, a detection device 104 is provided in the business premises. The detection device 104 has a camera 105 for detecting the shelf 100 and / or the area surrounding the shelf 100. The camera 105 is designed to detect the presence of a person in the vicinity of the device 1 using image recognition and to generate sensor data, possibly including interpretation data, which describe the person's presence. The use of this sensor data will be discussed further in the following text. The camera 105 is connected to a radio unit 107 of the detection device 104. The radio unit 107 is designed to transmit the sensor data, possibly including interpretation data, to the device 1, or rather to its radio unit 6 (see Figure 2). The detection device 104 and the device 1 thus together form a system 108 for controlling the device 1.

[0057] Figure 1 also shows a section plane AA.

[0058] Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the device 1 along the section plane AA. The screen 2 has a transparent front cover 20, a panel 21 for displaying the information to be reproduced, and screen electronics 22.

[0059] The screen electronics 22 are powered by a battery 4. Alternatively or additionally, a capacitor can also be used for power supply. The battery 4 and the screen electronics 22 are connected to a control unit 5. The control unit 5 has radio stage 6 for communicating with the radio device 107 (external to the device 1). The control unit 5 is designed to interpret the data received via radio stage 6. The control unit 5 is designed to control the screen electronics 22 depending on the sensor data and / or interpretation data received via radio stage 6. Thus, depending on this data, different image content can, for example, be displayed on the screen 2. Furthermore, the control unit 5 has a

[0060] Sensor processing stage 7 is used to process sensor data. The sensor data is provided by a first sensor unit 8A and a second sensor unit 8B, which is connected to the control unit 5. The first sensor unit 8A is designed as a time-of-flight sensor unit, specifically as a radar sensor, and is positioned to detect whether an object, such as a person and / or a shopping cart, is in front of the device 1. The second sensor unit 8B is designed as a temperature sensor and detects the temperature inside the device 1. The second sensor unit 8B is also connected to the control unit 5.

[0061] Furthermore, the device 1 includes a cooling device 9. The cooling device 9 is connected to and controlled by the control unit 5. The cooling device 9 is designed as a fan.

[0062] Device 1 includes a second energy harvesting device 3B, which is attached to the screen 2, specifically to the screen electronics 22. Device 1 includes a third energy harvesting device 3B, which is attached to the control unit 5. Device 1 includes a fourth energy harvesting device 3C, which is attached to the screen 2, specifically to the panel 21, via a heat conduction device 13 and a heat storage device 10. The second, third, and fourth energy harvesting devices 3B, 3C, and 3D are each designed as thermal energy harvesting devices for extracting or generating electrical energy from a temperature difference or from heat. The thermal energy harvesting devices 3B, 3C, and 3D are designed for energy conversion via the Seebeck effect.

[0063] The energy harvesting units 3A, 3B, 30, and 3D provide electrical energy and charge the battery 4. The control unit 5 processes the sensor data from the internal sensors 8A and 8B, as well as the sensor data provided by the detection device 107, and uses this data to control the cooling unit 9 and, via the screen electronics 22, the screen 2. For example, if it is detected that a person is in the vicinity of the device 1, the screen 2 is instructed to play an advertising video. This causes the screen 2 to heat up, resulting in a temperature difference compared to the surrounding environment and the interior of the device 1. The heat is transferred to the heat storage unit 10 via the heat conduction unit 13. The heat conduction unit 13 has a heat conduction area 11 made of a highly thermally conductive material, such as copper, and insulation 12, which prevents excessive heat loss into the surrounding environment.The heat storage device 10 is designed as a latent heat storage unit and contains a medium that changes its state of matter when heated. This prevents the screen from reaching undesirable temperatures, because above a certain temperature the energy required for the change of state is absorbed by the medium. The heat provided by the screen 2 heats one side of each of the second and third energy harvesting units 3B and 3C, respectively, while the other side protrudes into the interior of the device 1. The temperature difference results in power generation by the energy harvesting units 3B and 3C. Over time, the temperature inside the device 1 increases, which impairs power generation.If the second sensor unit 8B detects a temperature above a certain threshold, for example 30 °C, 35 °C, 40 °C, or 45 °C, the control unit 5 activates the cooling unit 9, causing it to expel warm air from the device 1 and draw in cool ambient air. This restores a temperature difference, allowing the second and third energy harvesting units 3B and 3C to provide usable energy again, while simultaneously cooling the screen 2. The same applies to the fourth energy harvesting unit 3D in relation to the heat provided by the control unit 5. In this embodiment, the control unit 5 thus controls the cooling unit 9 and, indirectly, the activity of the energy harvesting units 3B, 3C, and 3D, ensuring optimal energy utilization and thus enabling the longest possible operating time for the device 1.At the same time, screen 2 is cooled and temperature fluctuations are reduced, thus preventing damage to screen 2.

[0064] Finally, it should be noted once again that the figures described in detail above are only exemplary embodiments, which can be modified in various ways by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For the sake of completeness, it should also be noted that the use of the indefinite articles "a" or "an" does not preclude the possibility that the features in question may be present multiple times.

Claims

Claims 1. Electronic device, in particular designed as a shelf rail and / or as an electronic display device, for mounting on a shelf, wherein the device has an energy harvesting device designed for energy harvesting.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured as a video shelf rail comprising a screen for displaying video and / or image information, in particular product and / or price information.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the energy harvesting device is designed to obtain electrical energy from a temperature difference or from heat, in particular with a thermoelectric generator and / or a pyroelectric crystal.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 3, wherein the energy harvesting device is designed to utilize the waste heat of the screen of the device.

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the energy harvesting device is located adjacent to the screen, in particular contacting the screen, preferably contacting the screen over a surface.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 5, wherein - the device has a cooling device, in particular a cooling device comprising a fan, for cooling at least parts of the device, in particular a screen or a part of a screen, and wherein - the device is designed to control the cooling device depending on the activity of the energy harvesting device.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 6, wherein the device has a sensor device for detecting a state and / or wherein the device is configured to receive sensor data describing a state, wherein the device is configured to control the energy harvesting device depending on the state.

8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the condition relates to the presence of a person and wherein the device is configured to control the energy harvesting device depending on the presence of a person.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 3 to 8, wherein the device comprises a heat storage device.

10. Device according to claim 9, wherein the heat storage device is designed as a latent heat storage device and / or thermochemical heat storage device or sorption storage device, or comprises a latent heat storage device and / or thermochemical heat storage device or sorption storage device.

11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 3 to 10, wherein the device has a heat conduction device configured to conduct heat towards the energy harvesting device.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device has an energy storage device for storing electrical energy, wherein the device is configured to store electrical energy provided by means of the energy harvesting device in the energy storage device.

13. Device according to claim 12, wherein the energy storage device comprises a capacitor, in particular a supercapacitor, or is designed as a capacitor.

14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy harvesting device is configured as a solar cell or photovoltaic cell or comprises a solar cell or photovoltaic cell.

15. Device according to claim 14, wherein the solar cell is designed as a Grätzel cell or dye-sensitized solar cell.

16. Method for operating a device, in particular designed as a shelf rail and / or as an electronic display device, attached to a shelf, wherein the device has an energy harvesting device which provides electrical energy by means of energy harvesting.

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the device is configured as a video shelf rail comprising a screen for displaying the video and / or image information, in particular the product and / or price information, and generates waste heat during its operation.

18. Method according to claim 17, wherein the energy harvesting device generates electrical energy from a temperature difference or from heat, in particular with a thermoelectric generator and / or a pyroelectric crystal.

19. Method according to one of claims 17 to 18, wherein the energy harvesting device uses the waste heat from the screen of the device to provide electrical energy.

20. Method according to claim 19, wherein the energy harvesting device is located adjacent to the screen, in particular contacting the screen, preferably contacting the screen over a surface.

21. Method according to any one of the preceding claims 17 to 20, wherein - the device has a cooling device, in particular a cooling device comprising a fan, for cooling at least parts of the device, in particular a screen or a part of a screen, and wherein - the cooling unit is controlled depending on the activity of the energy harvesting unit.

22. Method according to any one of the preceding claims 17 to 21, wherein the device has a sensor device for detecting a state and / or wherein the device is configured to receive sensor data describing a state, wherein the energy harvesting device is controlled depending on the state.

23. Method according to claim 22, wherein the condition relates to the presence of a person and wherein the energy harvesting device is controlled depending on the presence of persons.

24. Method according to any one of the preceding claims 18 to 23, wherein the device comprises a heat storage device with which heat is stored.

25. Method according to claim 24, wherein the heat storage device is designed as a latent heat storage device and / or thermochemical heat storage device or sorption storage device, or comprises a latent heat storage device and / or thermochemical heat storage device or sorption storage device.

26. Method according to any one of the preceding claims 18 to 25, wherein the device has a heat conduction device which conducts the heat towards the energy harvesting device.

27. A method according to any one of the preceding claims 16 to 26, wherein the device comprises an energy storage device for storing electrical energy, wherein - the electrical energy provided by the energy harvesting facility is stored in the energy storage system.

28. Method according to claim 27, wherein the energy storage device comprises a capacitor, in particular a supercapacitor, or is designed as a capacitor to store the energy.

29. Method according to any one of the preceding claims 16 to 28, wherein the energy harvesting device is configured as a solar cell or photovoltaic cell or comprises a solar cell or photovoltaic cell.

29. Method according to claim 29, wherein the solar cell is designed as a Grätzel cell or dye-sensitized solar cell.

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